Method of making vehicle props



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,061

G. E. WHEELER ET AL METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE PROPS Original Filed Nov. 4, 1926 2 SheetsSheat l M wdfial/ W 'G. E. WHEELER ET AL METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE PROPS Original Filed Nov. 4. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet A 2 a 8. 3W. 9. 81 .10. 51 .11.

iii)

Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

GARDNER. E. WHEELEB'ANIJ CHARLES OPPE,OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE PROPS.

Original application filed November 4, 1926, Serial No. 146,245, and in Canada. March 25, 1927. Divided and this application filed November 1, 1927.

propsare placed toward the rear end of the a body and areusually purely ornamental in character. For this purpose theyiare not supplied witha hinged joint, though in order that they may simulate the usual hinged vehicle prop they are provided with an imitation joint, which also enhances the appearance of the props and renders their usemore popular. It is not required that these devices possess great strengtlnbut, at the same time, they HTLLISPPOSSGSS rigidity and durability and i must be well made so thatithe parts will not. rattle or becomeunsightly in use. In the past, such props have usually been made from a solid barof metal and when made in this way are much heavier than is re quired, and beside adding useless weight to the vehicle are expensive to construct.

One object of our. invention is the provision of a vehicle prop lot: this character formed from sheet metal.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a vehicle prop which shall be light in weight and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and at the some time strong and durable.

Another object of our invention is theprovision of a novel method of making a vehicle prop of this character from sheet metal or a hollow tubular member so that the resulti ing article will be strong and the parts thereof firmly bound together, and at the same time will be light in weight and relatively inexpensive.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a sheet metal vehicle prop of this character which will simulate the usual hinged prop of solid material and which will be very light in weight and quite ornamental in character.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to he hereinafter described and Serial No. 280,356.

Fig-,4: is an enlarged view of the reverse or back side or the central portion. of the P P;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4t;

Fig. 6 is a sectional of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is flwVilGW similar to Fig. 6, showing awmodified 'lorm oi our invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 72-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is anelevational view of a prop during the process of construction by another method; I

Fig. 9 is a view of the .propshown in Fig. 8 after being bent into a :modi lied S- shaped form;

Fig. 10 is a view of the completed prop shown in. Figs. 8 and .9;

Fig. 11 is a view of the central portion oil the prop shown in Fig. 8. the view being taken from the reverse side before the edges of the blank are turned over to form the tube;

view on line 6 6 Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line 12--12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the blank from which theprop is made;

Fig. 14 a transverse central sectional view through the enlarged portion of the prop shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the knuckle or imitation hinge member before being applied to the prop.

According to a preferred method of con struction illustrated in Figs. 1-7 of the drawings; a straight tubular blank 10 may be provided by any preferred method. such as using an ordinary seamless metal tube of oblong cross-section. as shown at 11 in Fig.

6. or this tube may be made by taking a sheetmctal blank, bending the edges th erect to form a channel or U-shaped member, and

then turning these edges in to complete the tube. Pertorations 12 and 13 are provided adjacent the ends ofthisblank. and thereafterthe tube is bent into a modified 8- shaped form (the form desired of thefin- .ish'ed prop), asshownat M in Fig. 2. The

prop will, oil. course. be hollow but at the same time will be rip-id and. possesssulficient strength for the use to which such. articles are put.

In. order to provide an imitationyhinge inen'll'icnupon the prop and to ornament it lUl) so as to enhance its appearance adjacent the central portion thereof a piece of sheet metal is blanked out, of sufiicient Width to wrap about the central portion of the prop, the opposite edges substantially meeting along the edges 16. The metal of this blank at its intermediate portion and adjacent one of the edges thereof is drawn up to provide a circular recessed portion or knuckle 17 which simulates the usual hinge. The top of this recessed portion, as shown at 18, will be substantially circular in shape and the periphery thereof where this member projects from the body of the prop is provided with adepending flange 19 so that from the front it will have the appearance ofbeing a solid member of considerable thickness. Ad jacent its upper and "lower edges on the front'side of the prop the sheet metal mem- -.1-.1-- ber 15 may be pointed, as shown at 20 and 21, for purposes of ornamentation.

It will be understood that in many instances. thebody of the prop will be covered with paint or enamel to conform to the color of the vehicle body upon which itis used, while the central member 15 may be made of some bright metal, such as aluminium to contrast with the color-of the body of the prop and enhance its appearance. The member 30. 1 5 may be effectually secured in position by being'wrapped tightly around the body of the prop and having tongues 22 struck there from and turned into openings 23 provided in the wall of the tubular member 10. 5. 'Complementary cap members 24 and 25 are provided Which, when fitted together, form anend cap which may be slipped over the end'of the prop and may be secured thereon by a hollow rivet-or eyelet 26 passed 40. I through the perforations 12 or 13 and through openings 27 and 28 provided in the 'capmembers. These cap members are provided with end flanges 24 and 25* which abut when arranged as shown in Fig. 7 and "xse'rve to close the end of the tubular body memberand give the article a finished appearance. Means are also provided in this manner to fasten the prop to the body of the vehicle'whiel. is ordinarily accomplished by fastening members passing through the openings in the rivets 26. p Y

In Figs; 8" to 15 of the drawings is shown a modified form of our invention wherein 1 tfhe manufacture of the prop is begun with a "rectangular piece'of sheet metal of the desiredlength and width whichis slightly enlarged at its central portion. The edges of this blank'are' then turned up into U-shaped "form; as shown vat 30 in Fig; 13. In order f-"that the finished prop at its central portion may be of enlarged cross-section as compared with the rest of'the body and shall be rectangular in cross section, as shown at 31 in Fig. 14,-"wh-ile the rest of the body is oval, a 'mat'rix or form 32 of substantlally the same length as the enlarged portion 33 of the finished prop may be placed within the U-shaped blank 30. The upturned edges of the blank are then closed over to meet at substantially the longitudinal center of. the prop. The result of the foregoing operations is shown at 34 in Fig. 8 wherein a straight hollow prop is formed of shoot metal having a central enlarged portion 33 within which the form 32. The ends of the tubular body 34- may be provided with the perforations 35 and 36 either at this time or before the blank is stamped into U- shaped form.

The tube is then bent at its ends into a mod fied S-shapcd form, as shown at 37 in Fig. 9. An imitation hinge or knuckle member 40 is then prepared from sheet metal,

preferably aluminium, so that it will be ornamental in character. This member is of substantially cylindrical shape having upper and lower circular bases 41 and .42 joined by the wall 43. This wall is cut away from approximately hali": otthe periphery of the bases 41 and 4-2 so as to provided an opening I or month 4:31- to receive the central enlarged portion of the prop in order that the knuckle member may he slipped upon the prop, the latter being embraced by the bases 41 and 42. The knuckle member may be sccured in place by a fastening member such as a rivet or the like 45 which not only passes through the metal. wall of the prop but enters the wooden form to hold the knuckle member firmly in place. As shown in Fig. 12 the metal at. the periphery of each base 41 and 4-2 is slightly turned inwardly at 46 and 4-? so as to lie closely adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of the prop.

It will, of course. be understood that the seam formed by joining the two edges of the sheet metal blank will be disposed on the back of: the finished article so that it will not be visible when the article is in use.

End caps are then applied to the ends of the prop in the manner shown in Fig. 7 and described in connection with the embodiment of our invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

In the last dcs-tcribcd embodiment of our invention the entire prop may be made of some ornamental material such as aluminium. so that the enlarged central portion and knuckle member may be given a bright finish. while the remainder of the article maybe painted or enameled to contrast therewith. and conform to the color ot the body of the vehicle.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings we ha vc shown a slightly modified form oi our invention. wherein the back of the knuckle member 10" is closed by a projecting car or lug 16" extending from the edge of the nu-mbcr 15;". In this instance. the side flange 20" of the knuckle member is somewhat deeper than the flange ll? shown in Fig. i. and the lug o.- ear 1G projecting from the outer edge oi llld till

the member 15 is bulged or displaced out wardly and servesto close the rear face of. the member 19 so that a knuckle member of s-.=.1.ibstantiallythe form. shown in Fig. 12 is provided. In other respects, this portion of. the prop is formed, as shown in Figs. 4:, 5 and 6.

It will. be obvious that we have provided a method of making a vehicle prop which, while it is possessed oi the strength and durability required o'lisnch articles, may be much lighter in weight and less expensive to manuli'acture than similar articles trained. 01 solid metal bars.

lVe make no claim in this application to the improved vehicle prop as an article of manufacture, as such claims are made in our copending application, Serial No. 1416,9445, filed November at, 1926, of which this application is a division.

What we claim is 1. The method of making a vehicle prop or the like, which comprises preparingan, elongated straight sheet metal blank o't tnbular torn'iation and of the desired length, providing adjacent the ends of said blank means for attaching it to a vehicle body, reversely bending the ends 01 the blank into a modified S-shaped formation, :lorming a knuckle member of circular shape, and securing said knuckle member at the central portion of the S-shaped prop.

2. The method of making a vehicle prop or the like, which comprises preparing a straight elongated tubular blank ot the desired. length, providing means adjacent the ends oi the blank by which it may be secured in place, reversely bending the blank adjacent the end portions thereof into a modified S-shaped form, lormin g integrally with a separate piece of sheet metal a circular knuckle member, and wrapping said piece ot sneet metal about the central portion of the S-shaped prop member with the circular knuckle member projecting laterally therefrom.

3. The method of making a vehicle prop, comprising preparing a straight hollow sheet metal blank of the desired length, reversely bending the blank adjacent its end into mod itied $-shaped form, providing means upon the ends of the blank by which it may be secured in place, forming a knuckle member oil circular shape from sheet metal, and securing this knuckle member to the blank a d jacent the central. portion thereof, so that it projects laterally therefrom.

l. The method of making a vehicle prop, coni 'irising preparing a tubular blank of the desired length, reversely bending the ends ot the tube into modified S-shaj: ed form, forming a circular knuckle member integrally with a piece oi sheet metal, secnring said sheet metal member to the cei'itral. portion. of the tube with the knuckle member modified S-shaped :lom, stamping up a rectangular sheet metal member having a hollow knuckle piece thereon, securing this member adjacent the central portion oil. the blank with the knuckle piece projecting laterally therefrom by wrapping the edges of the sheet metal. member around. the blank, and closing the ends oil the blank and provicling means thereat to secure the prop in place.

6. The method of making a vehicle prop, comprising preparing a tulmlar blank of the desired length, forming perforations there through adjacent its ends, reversely bending the ends Of the tube into modified S-shaped form, providing end caps for the tube with laterally projecting flanges, securing the end caps to the tube with the flanges closing the tube ends, and providing per-iterations in the caps to register with those in the blank, torn'iing a circular knuckle member to simulate a hinge and securing this knuckle mem her to the cent al' portion of the blank in a position projecting therefrom.

7. The method oil. making a vehicle prop, comprising preparing a hollow sheet metal blank oil? the desired length, and providing perforations thcrethrongh adjacent its ends, reversely bendiilp; the blank adjacent its ends into modified S-sl'iapcd term, enlarging the ends and the central portion of the blank by securing thereon separate sheet metal. members in embracing relation. to the blank, pro viding j'iertlkn'ations in the members secured at the one s Oil the blank to register with the perforations in the blank, and providing upon the separate member at the central. por-- tion of the blank a circular knuckle member projecting laterally from the body oil the blank to simulate a hinge.

8. The method of making a vehicle prop, comprising preparing a hollow tubular blank of the desired. length, having its ends reversely turned into modified S-shaped term, stantiping up a. sheet metal. member having a hollow knuckle giiece thereon, securing this member adjacent the central. portion of the blank with the kn tickle-piece projecting laterally therefrom by wrap iiing the sheet metal member around the blank to embrace the same, and providing means at the ends of the blank to secure the prop in place.

9. The method of making a vehicle bow or the like, which con'i n'ises preparing a hollow body niuunber o'l' ES-shaped ilorniation, j'noviding means at the end o'li said member by which it may be secured to a vehicle, and

providing at the central portion thereof a convex enlarged knuckle member to simulate a hinge. r

10. The method of makinu a vehicle prop comprising preparing a ollow tubular blank of the desired length having its ends reversely turned into modified S-shape form, stamping up a separate sheet metal member having Circular depressions in fixed relation to each other, securing this member adjacent to the central portion of the blank by wrapping it around the blank to embrace the same so that the circular depressions register to simulate a knuckle joint projecting laterally from the blank, and providing means at the ends of the blank to secure the prop in place.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 29th day of October, 1927.

GARDNER E. WHEELER. CHARLES OPPE. 

